Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
For socks and lingerie, cardboard labels are rarely used as small hang tags on strings. Instead, header cards are common – folded cardboard that wraps the top edge of the socks and holds them together, banderoles – cardboard bands around folded lingerie, and cardboard inserts inside packaging. These serve as both packaging and label: they hold the product, allow hanging on display racks, and carry brand, size, composition, and barcode information.
Cardboard Labels for Socks and Lingerie: Main Formats
| Format | Appearance | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Header card | Folded cardboard that grips the top of the product; often with a hole or euro slot for hanging | Socks, tights, sets, small accessories |
| Banderole (band) | Cardboard strip wrapping the folded product and sealed at the back | Boxers, briefs, T-shirts, sock sets |
| Cardboard insert | Flat card inside the packaging that maintains shape and carries information | Lingerie, tights, shirts in packaging |
| Hang tag | Classic hang tag on string or fastener | Pyjamas, lingerie on hangers, loungewear |
| Hook with cardboard | Cardboard with plastic hook or hanging hole | Pairs of socks, children's socks |
How Header Cards Are Attached
The header card must hold the product firmly without damaging it. Several methods are used:
- Staple – the fastest and cheapest method, but the metal staple can catch delicate knits. Suitable only for dense socks.
- Plastic pin (from label guns) – passes through the knit and cardboard; does not rust or tear threads if the needle is suitable.
- Adhesive – the two ends of the header card are glued around the product; clean, no piercing of the knit.
- Sewing or hook – for higher-end sets and gift packaging.
For thin tights and delicate lingerie, piercing is undesirable – banderoles or inserts inside packaging are safer options.
What to Print on Header Cards and Banderoles
The header card is small but must carry a lot of information. Arrange it hierarchically – the buyer first looks for size and product type.
- Brand and logo – front side, visible on the display.
- Product type – e.g., “Cotton Socks”, “2-pack Boxers”.
- Size – ranges for socks (e.g., 39–42), letter or number sizes for lingerie. Make size large and contrasting.
- Quantity in pack – clearly stated if more than one pair.
- Fiber composition – in percentages, per Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011.
- Care symbols – according to ISO 3758.
- EAN barcode – on the back, on a flat, light area.
- Manufacturer or importer details and country of origin.
- Languages – for all markets where the product is sold.
Important: composition must be accessible to the buyer at point of sale. For socks and lingerie, which often lack sewn-in labels, the header card or banderole effectively serves as the composition label. If the product has a sewn label, the information must match.
Logo Labels: Cardboard, Printing and Finishing
Cardboard choice depends on format and brand positioning:
- White coated cardboard – bright full-colour print; the most common choice for header cards.
- Kraft cardboard – natural look, suitable for organic cotton, bamboo, and eco collections.
- Coloured or black cardboard – with foil or white print for premium lingerie.
- Thinner cardboard – for banderoles that must bend around the product without cracking.
Finishing options are the same as for hang tags: matte or glossy lamination, spot UV varnish, hot foil stamping, embossing. For header cards, consider folding – lamination may crack along the fold if no crease (scoring) is applied.
Printing Cardboard Labels: Sizes and Holes
Header card size is determined by the folded product’s width. For socks, it is usually slightly wider than the folded pair, and the height is enough for front information and a euro hole for hanging. Banderoles are made with a length that wraps the product with some overlap at the back.
Before production, request a white mock-up (without print) or sample and place it on the actual product. This way you can check if the fold is correctly positioned, if the cardboard holds the product well, and if the hole is centred relative to the weight.
Header and Bag as a Set
Socks and lingerie are often sold with a header card placed inside a transparent or matte bag. Then the header is visible through the bag, which protects the product. The bag size must match the header to avoid creasing the cardboard. See nylon bags with zipper and logo printing and other packaging.
One Design for the Entire Range
If the brand has many items – different sock lengths, colours, and sizes – create one main header card frame and change only the fields with product type, size, and barcode. Different sizes can be marked with colour bands or icons, so both sellers and buyers can easily identify them. This way, individual versions are printed more cost-effectively, and the display looks neat and recognisable.
Common Mistakes
- Stapling on delicate knits – caught threads and complaints.
- Size printed too small and lost on the display.
- Barcode on dark background or on a fold.
- Lamination without scored fold – cracking along the edge.
- Missing composition when the product lacks a sewn label.
Polkom – Custom Cardboard Labels and Packaging
Polkom is a manufacturer of accessories for fashion, footwear, bags, perfumes, cosmetics, packaging, and furniture accessories based in Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We produce cardboard labels to your design – hang tags, folded cards, and special formats on request, with lamination, foil, and embossing, as well as bags with logo. All products have OEKO-TEX® certification. Send your product, dimensions, and design via the inquiry form.
